Wednesday, December 27, 2017

The Triumph Herald owners handbooks for the USA market included a list of the main distributors. I have extracted this information from the USA Triumph Herald Coupe and Convertible Owners Handbook for 1959-62.

America Dealer directory

I have a copy of the Leyland North America Dealer directory 1974 - Austn , MG, Jaguar, Triumph, Land Rover. If you have any other directories I would really appreciate a copy.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Gordon Lovett Ltd of Ealing are the subject of this short post in my series about Triumph car dealers.

This fine looking building at 45 Mall, Ealing W5 3TJ was the home of Gordon Lovett Ltd in 1979.

45 Mall, Ealing google street view May 2016

After the business ceased using the building a number of other firms have occupied the site. 30th March 1981 saw the appointment of a liquidator to the company Gordon Lovett Ltd which had been founded in August 1925.

Listed in my September 1968, March 1972, and March 1974 directories as Triumph dealer. Listed in May 1975 as Gordon Lovett Ltd (trading as Lovetts of Ealing) acting as a dealer for Rover, Land Rover and Triumph.

I know they held the Land Rover franchise in April 1950 and in 1961.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about Gordon Lovett Ltd of Ealing, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Loxham's Garage Ltd are the feature business of this article - number 54 in my series about Triumph car dealers.

A long history

Loxham's Garages Ltd 1922 advert

As this advert from 1922 shows Loxham's Garage Ltd operated in Preston from 1922 or earlier. With premises in Fishergate and Charnley Street they were selling Rolls Royce, Wolseley, Sunbeam, Austin, Bean, Belsize, Morris and Standard vehicles. I am indebted to the Preston digital archive for many of the images used in this article.

Loxhams Garages Ltd.1925 advert

Loxhams Garages Ltd, of Fishergate & Charnley Street, Preston advert from 1925 say "Dads New Car - Here it is and its Standard"

Loxhams Fishegate letterhead 12 December 1935

Loxhams Motor Garage, Charnley Street, Preston 1965

Car Parking

As with many other garages one of the services that Loxhams offered was car parking - as can be seen from this receipt from 1957.

The Bond connection

The Bond car company and Loxhams were connected. The original Bond Minicar which was conceived and designed by Lawrence (Lawrie) Bond was built in Preston, Lancashire by Sharp's Commercials Limited - a member of the Loxhams and Bradshaw Group of companies. Production started in January 1949.

Bond cars on delivery truck

The Bond Equipe, introduced in 1963, was built in association with Standard Triumph. The engine and chassis were taken from the Spitfire and Herald /Vitesse range whilst the main body parts were made in glass fibre by Bonds. The vehicle was then assembled at the Bond factory in Ribbleton Lane, Preston. The success of the Equipe led Sharp's Commercials to formally change its name to Bond Cars Limited in 1964.

Jaguar House, Blackpool Road, Preston 1958

Many years ago, we were appointed the First official Distributors of the Bond. Since that date we have sold a vast number of these wonderful cars, and in so doing, have made countless friends, all
of whom share our enthusiasm for the Bond.

This is the Mecca of all Bond owners and we arc the people to see about exchanging your old Bond for the new Mk. F Saloon.

Taken over by Dutton Forshaw

In 1968 the Loxhams and Bradshaw Group of companies was bought by the Dutton-Foreshaw Group. Loxhams Garages Ltd became a part of the Dutton Forshaw group and started trading under that name from some point after March 1972.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about any of Loxhams businesses, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Saturday, December 09, 2017

Merlyn Motors of Whiteladies Road, Bristol are the subject of this short post in my series about Triumph car dealers.

Merlyn Motors Ltd advert on Western Daily News 29 October 1932

Merlyn Motors Ltd advert on Western Daily News 10 December 1932

Merlyn Motors Ltd advert on Western Daily News 26 November 1932

Unfortunately at present the only information I have is these copies of a series of adverts from the Western Daily News in 1932.

Seagull outboard motors

August 1931 saw the introduction of a 2-stroke motor made by the Sunbeam Motorcycle Company. Originally intended as an industrial engine there were three versions, a 340 c.c. twin, a 102 c.c. single, and a 78 c.c. single. It was produced at Wolverhampton for several years, and distributed in the UK by Merlyn Motors Whiteladies Road Bristol. It became known as the 'Seagull' outboard motor. Thanks to www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/Transport/Motorcycles/Sunbeam/Sunbeam5.htm for the above paragraph.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about this garage, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Saturday, December 02, 2017

Dunns Garages (Sunderland) Ltd are the feature business of this article - number 52 in my series about Triumph car dealers.

Dunn's Garages (Sunderland) Ltd Road Atlas

Dunns as distributor

Dunns Garages (Sunderland) Ltd were the distributor for Standard Triumph cars in their area (County Durham excluding Gateshead) for many years and would have supplied vehicles to other garages in their territory. They operated from two premises in Sunderland Wheatsheaf Corner and Roker Avenue.

By May 1975 they were listed as being distributors for the Rover, Triumph and Land Rover franchises in Sunderland. Became a part of the Dutton Forshaw group. The garage premises at 53-6 North Bridge Street have been demolished and block of student flats (called Dunn House) now stands on the site.

Dunns Garage Street Scence 1950's

Thanks to Gary Flinn for this copy of a 1950's street scene that includes Dunns Garage. I think this shows 53-6 North Bridge Street.

Roker Avenue

Dunn's Garage (Sunderland) Ltd, 190/198 Roker Avenue

2017 google streetview of former Dunns building

Thanks to John Scarr for his comment: "building formerly Dunn`s garage and showroom in Roker Ave. Showroom windows now bricked up as Tile Giant. Small island with pumps used to be at the front left corner. Workshop entrance was down George St to the left. Roller shutter doorway, (now also bricked up) was where the blue car is standing."

Delivery transporter

Dunns of Sunderland Delivery Truck February 1960

Dunns of Sunderland, Standard-Triumph Distributors, had their own transporter. It looked very bright in the firm's colours of black and chrome yellow with the Standard-Triumph insignia in blue and white. Here is an reproduction label in the brands black and yellow.

Standard Atlas

Dunns Garages (Sunderland) Ltd Atlas advert the Sunderland Echo 1958

An Ambulance conversion of a Standard Atlas supplied by Dunn's Garages (Sunderland) Ltd to the Red Cross Society, Durham was shown in the Standard Triumph Review for January 1964.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about Dunns Garages (Sunderland) Ltd such as photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know. I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin